Retrieving mechanism



s sheets-sheet 1 1N V EN TOR.

A TTORNEYI May 23, 1939. H. BoscH, JR

A RETRIEVING MECHNISM Filed June 9, 1956 May 23, 1939. H, BOSCH JR 2,159,004

RETRIEvinG MEcHANIsM Filed June 9, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENToR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented May z3, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE f voisins.

Ihis invention relates to retrieving or re-winding mechanisms such as spring re-wound window shades, diums, and reels having cords wound thereabout, and like devices, and especially t means operable in conjunction therewith to prevent va too rapid retrieving 'or re-winding action. yPractically all windowshades in common use today consist of a roller about which the window shade is wound. The roller'is supported with relation to the upper. portion of a window casing by means cfa pair of brackets, one bracket serving as a bearing for one end of the roller, and the other-bracket as a support for the opposite end of the roller and also as a'n anchor member.

for a rod which extends a substantial distance into the roller. The end of the rod .which enters the bracket is flattened and extends into al slot in the bracket and as -such is non-rotatable. This 'rod serves the following functions: First,

ly, that of supporting a helical spring; third, that of functioning as an anchor membei` for one end of the spring. The other end of the spring is securedvto the roller, hence when the shade is unwoundor lowered the rotational movementof the roller. will wind the spring and produce suilicient tensionto re-roll the roller when the winpulled downwardly a slight distance and then.

raised quickly as one o r another of the pawls would otherwise engage, and if the window shade is purposely or accidentally released the roller will rewind with an exceedingly rapid action;

or, plainly speaking run away as there is nothing to restrict the re-winding action of the helical spring. There is a stick at the lower end of the 1 window shade and when the shadeis fully rerolled the stick is liable to strike one or another l of the lsupporting brackets and tear the shade and if it does not doso it will ruIi around and o around the roller'until the spring becomes unwound. Hence, when .the shade is to be lowered the next time it lwill be found that there is not suiiicient tension in the spring to cause re-winding of the shade and it must then be taken' down 55 and partly re-wound or tensioned before it-s that of supporting one end of the roller; secondpossible to retrieve or re-rollthe window shade hence there are two major objections, either that vof unwinding the spring or that of tearing the brake or stop mechanism also remaining released when a yielding resistance is applied to the shade so as to permit re-winding of the shade but said brake or lock mechanism being automatically apl5 plied or locked the moment pull on the shade is released; to provide a shade roller, reel, or like structure in which the re-winding spring may be placed within the shade roller or reel or-at a point exterior thereof, for instance, inone of 20 the shade roller supporting brac ets; and, fur--- ther, to provide a brake or lock, mechanism in which the brake is applied by the tension of the re-winding spring and released by relieving said tension.

The invention has severalk different applications and diiferent forms which are-shcwn by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings, in which y Fig. 1 is a cross section taken on line I-I of 80 Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section ofa reel mechanism;`

Fig. 3 is a plan view partially in section taken on line IlI--III of Fig; 1; 35

Fig. 4 is a front view partially in section of a window shade and its actuatingmechanism;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of Fig. 4, partially in section; Fig. 6 is an end view of the bracket ll and the 40 housing 42 formed integral therewith; I Fig. 'l is a cross section taken on line VII- VII Fig. s is a front view partially m section of a l window shade showing a modified form of the 45 mechanism disclosed in Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 is a cross section taken on line IX--IX oi Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a plan view of the bracket 'lll and the housing so formed integrintherewith; 5*

bracket, or the like; a mst rotor in the form of a shade roller, a reel, or the like, rotatably mounted in the support; a second rotor in the form of an arm, a disc, or the like, normally rotatable in unison with the first-named rotor but said rotors having a limited rotary movement with relation to each other; a spring or like mechanism for re-winding the mst-rotor and mechanism actuated by the limited rotational movement of the nrst and second rotors with relation to each other for either releasing or locking said rotorsagainst release -with relation to the stationary support.

One form which the invention may assume is shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. In this instance a spring actuated reel is disclosed which is adapted to be placed in the base of a lamp,in the wall,

or partition, of a building, or in any place where an electrical extension cord or the like is -required.

The mechanism consists of a cylindrical-shaped housing 2 having end walls 3 and 4. Journaled between said walls centrally of the housing is a shaft and secured thereon is a reel S about which is wound an extension cord 1. Secured to one lace of the reel is a disc 8 of insulating material and secured to said disc are .two conductor rings 9 and I0, to which the terminal ends of the `extension cord are connected. Electric current is delivered to the housing by a cable I I which is connected with two terminals carried by an'insulating block I2. These terminals also carry brushes I3, one in engagement with each conductor ring and current is thus delivered to the extension cord whether the reel is rotating or stationary.

Secured interior of the housing is a drum I4 which Serves two main functions, rst that of an anchor for the outer end of a re-winding spring I5, the inner end of which is secured to shaft 5 to rotate the same and the reel carried thereby and, secondly, that of a brake drum as will hereinafter appear.

Supported by the shaft 5 and interposed between the reel and the drum is a disc I6. This -disc is connected to the reel by a rod I'I pivotaily .attached to the reel as at I8, and having its other end slidable and extending through a lug I8, pivoted on the outer end of an'arm 2li which is secured -to the disc I8 The rod carries an adjustablecollar or nut 2| between which and the lug I9 a compression spring 2Ia is interposed. A collar 22 on the outer end of themed limits the movement of the rod and hence the disc I6 with relation to the reel. The entire connection will normally cause the disc i5 to rotate in unison with the reelbut it permits a limited movement of the disc with relatipn to the reel or vice versa. This movement is important asit is utilized to either apply or releasean external band brake such as indicated at 24. The band brake encircles the drum 'I4 and its free ends are attached to a` lever Il', as shown in Fig. 1, said lever being pivotally attached to the disc as at 26 and being provided with a forked extension whichstraddles :apin 21 se -ured to the reel.

In actual practice ii the reel carries an elecnecessary to grasp the plug 29, or the cord itself,- and to pull it outwardly. In so doing the' reel rotates and spring I5 will be put under greater tension. When the cord has been extended as far asjdesired the reel is automatically locked against rotation and the cord maythus be used. On the other hand, if it is desired to re-reel the cord it is necessary ilrst ofV all to vexert `a slight pull on the cord and then to apply yielding resistance; that is, resistance which permits the spring to re-reel the cord yet does not permit the reel to run away.

The reel proper will nowgbe referred to as the rst rotor and the disc I8 as the second rotor. It has already been stated that the rst and second rotors will rotate in unison withl each other. either when the cordgis being pulled of! or extended and also when the cord is being re-reeled. A limited free movement of one rotor with relation to the other is, however, permitted through the connection formed between the two rotors as shown by the numerals I8 and 22 in Fig. l. When the brake band 24 is applied arm 25 will assume the full line position shown in Fig. l, and rod I1 the full line position shown in thesame figure. On the other hand, if a pull is exerted on the extension cord the spring surrounding the rod' I1 will cause the parts I8 and I9 to separate, or in other words will cause a limited rotation of the disc in a direction opposite to that of the pull on the cord. 'I'his movement of the disc ory second rotor relative to the reel or fl'rst rotor causes the lever 25 to swing about its pivot 28 and assume the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The brake band will thus be released and asa further pull is exerted on the cord both the reel and the disc, or in other words, the ilrst and seconl rotors will rotate in unison.4 Such rotational movement in a reverse direction will also take place as long as a yielding resistance is applied to the cord but if the pull on the cord is suddenly released the tension of the re-Winding spring I5" `is so great that it instantly overcomes the tension ofthe spring surrounding the rod I1, or in other words overrides the same` In that case the reel moves faster than the disc and thereby .causes the parts I8 and I9 to approach eachVY This motion reverses the position of the In Figs. 4 to '7 the invention is shown as ap'- ported in brackets 30 and 3I at opposite ends.

The bracket 30 is of the usual type as the iiat or spear end of the roller projects into it and is secured against rotation therein.. The bracket 3 I, on the other hand, is di'erentas it carries a cylindrical housing or extension which functions as a brake drum and also as'a housing and support for the irst and-second rotors, as will now be described.

The first rotor comprises a shaft 32 journaled as`at 33 in one end of the housing and at the opposite end in a closure plate 34. This shaft is slotted as at 35 to receive the flat end' 36 of a pin which is secured in the shade roller. The shaft is also provided with a disc 31 which will be referred to as the rst rotor, as it is directly connected with or actuated\by the re-winding spring 29. The second rotor indicati at 38 is cylin\ dr'ical in shape'and is supported by shaft 32. It hasa limited rotational movement with relation 4to the rst' rotor, said limited movement being controlled by'a spiral spring 39 anchored at the inner end to the shaft 32 and at the outer end to` a helical spring 4I which surrounds the second rotor vand which is interposed'between said second rotor and the inner face of the housing indi- 'cated at 42. This spring functions as a brake band, one end of the spring having a projecting end 42a which extends into an opening in the disc 31 while the opposite end of the spring has a projecting end 4217 which projects into the slot 40. Whenever there is rotational movement between the irst and second rotor thespring 4| willeitherbe contracted or expanded. When contracted it permits vfree movement of'both' the shade causes both rotors to rotate in unison and provided'with a bearing 5|.

end of the housing is normally closed by a clospring hereinafter to be referred to.

and causes winding of the spring 29.4 The moment the pull on Athe shade is released] spring 29l which is much'more powerful thanv spring 39, overcomes the ^action of that spring and there will again be a rotary motion between the two` lrotors causing expansion'of the spring 4land thereby causing it to function as a vbrake as it expands and grasps the inner surface'42 of the' housing, thereby locking both rotors against rotation. l

` In Figs. 8 to 11 a still different form of structure suitable for attachment to a shade roller, a

reel, or the like, is disclosed. The structure conf.

sists of a cylindrical housing 5|) closed at one end The opposite sure plate 52 having a bearing53. Extending through the, housing and journaled in the bear-l ings 5I and 53 is a shaft 54 on which is formed a disc 55, which will be referred to as the rst rotor, as it is driven and actuated by a re-'winding Carried by the shaft 54 is a disc 56, which will bereferred to as the second rotor. This disc has a limited rotary movement withgrelation to the first rotor just as in the other structures, said limited movement being controlled by a spiral spring 51 'interposed between the rotors and anchored at 'the inner end to the shafirof the first rotor and. at

the outer,end to the second rotor as shown at 55. The outer face of the disc 55, 'or in otherwords, the rst rotor, is 'provider with two cam .su'rfaces such as indicated at 59 and 80. Two balls,

such as shown at 6l, are placed on the cam surfaces and are held against 4lateral movement with relation thereto, first bythe adjacent face on the second rotor56 and, secondly, by a disc or end plate 62. A pair of pins 53 are secured tothe face of the second rotor andproject into the path followed by theballs 6I. .The tension of the spring 451 is such that lit -will tend to rotate B2 and the closure plate 52.

the second rotor with relation to the rst rotor la suillcient distance to cause the pins to engage the balls and normally hold them at the end of the respective cam tracks or in the positions shown in Fig. 9. The balls function as locking or braking members between the first rotor and the housing as they will engage the inner face of said housing when the rst rotor overcomes the tension of the spring 51 and' rolls the balls outwardly on the cam tracks to a point where v the balls will bind between the cam track and theinner face of the housing as shown by dotted 4 lines at Gla. In this position the balls will lock the first and second rotor against rotation with relation to the housing. In most instances, in fact in both of the structures heretofore described, Athe re-winding -spring is carried either by'the shade roller or some similar means.

In the present instance the re-wind-ing spring is carried within the housing 50 between the disc A multiple or tandem' type of spring is employed, the springs being of the spiral or ordinary clock spring'type, as shown in Figs. 8 and 11'. The springs are lindicated at i5-and 66. 'I'he inner end of the spring is secured to the shaft 54, the outer end thereof is secured to a housing G1. 'I'his housing has a. hub 68 which is freely rotatable on the shaft. The 'second spring has its inner end anchored to the hub 68 while the outer end of said spring is anchored to the housing at the point indicated at B9. Shaft 54 is slotted at one' end to receive the flat end 1l of a shaft, or whatever itimay be. inserting a flat end member such as a screw driver, or the like, and rotating the shaft 54 in the proper direction, the two springs may be wound to any. tension desired and obviously the power of those two springs is much greater than that of the spring .51. In actual operation let it be assumed that the housing 50 is provided with brackets, such as shown at 10 see Fig. 9. In that instance it may be connected with an ordinary shade roller and the usual re-winding spring withinthe shade'roller may be entirely eliminated. I'hat is, one end` of the shade roller will merely have a .pin which is freely 'rotatable in the bracket 30a, such as shown in Fig. 8, while the other end of the shade roller will have a' at end shaft to project into the slotv1l'of shaft 54. By pullf ing on the shade, shaft 54 will rotate in a directicn to apply further tension to the springs 65 and 66 and when the pull-on the shade is released the tension of these springs will instantly reverse the rotation of the first rotor 55 causing it to rotate a predetermined distance with relationto the second rotor and thereby cause the balls 6I to roll up the inclined cam tracks to a point where they wedge or bind and at that point thel two, together with the shade roller, will be locked.

Again, by merely exerting a slight. pull on the shade roler, that is, a' pull sufficient to overcome the tension of the springs 65 and 66, free movement vo f the first rotor withrelation to the second rotor will again take place andthe tension of the spring 51 will causethe second rotor and the pfns B3 carried thiieby to push the balls back to the low point of fthe cam tracks, thus freeing the rotors and permitting free rotation ofthe shade rotor as long'ry as a pull is applied.

, By the structure here disclosed it -is possible to very materially, simplify the construction of `the standard type 'of shade rollers now in use as the internal re-wiri'ding spring may be entirely eliminated and so ,'may the yanchor rod to which it is secured. The pawls and ratchet usually em- Figs. 8 to 11 may 'also be applied to reels of any,

character, whether-it be for power extension cords, clothes lines, tapes, and any othersimilar me, as ,it would only be necessary to connect the shaft of the reel with the slotted end 'Il o`f shaft 5I, and while this and other features have been more or less specifically described and illustrated, I wish it understood that various changes may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims. Similarly, that the materials and'flnish ofthe several parts employed may be such as the manufacturer may decid, or varying conditions or uses may demand.

Having thus described 'my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 1. In a retrieving mechanism, an elongated flexible member, a rotorv to which one end of saidl ilexible member is secured and about which it is wound and from which said flexible member may be unwound byexerting a pull on the free end thereof, means connected with the rotor for rewinding the iiexible member when it has been unwound, a stationary brake drum, a cooperating brake connected with the rotor to secure the rotor against rotation', a second rotor normally rotatable irr unison with the rst-named rotor, said rotors having a limited rotary movement with relation each other, and means actuated by the relative rotational movement of the two rotors for automatically applying the brake if a pull on the flexible member is released and for releasing the brake when a pull is exerted on the flexible member.

2. In a retrieving mechanism, an elongated ilexible member, a rotor to which-one end oi' said flexible member is secured and labout which it is wound and from which said exible member may be unwound by exerting a pull on the free end thereof, means connected with the rotor for rewinding the flexible member when it has been unwound, a stationary brake drum, a cooperating external brake band carried by the rotor to securev the rotor'against rotation, a second rotor normally rotatablein unison with the first-named rotor, said rotors 'having a limited rotary movement with relation1 to each other, uand means actuated by the relative rotational movement of the two rotors for automatically; applying the brake band if a pull on the ilexible member is released,'and for releasing the brake band when a pull is exerted on the flexible member.

3. In a retrievingV mechanism, an elongated flexible member, a rotor to which one end of said exible member is secured and about which it is ond rotor normally rotatablein unison with the first-named rotor, said rotors having a limited rotary movement with relation to each other, and means actuated by the relative rotational-movement of the two rotors for automatically apply' ing theA internal expanding brake member if a pull on the flexible member is released and for releasing the internal expanding brake member when a pull is exerted on the exible member.

4. In a retrieving mechanism, an elongated flexible member, a rotor to which one end of said flexible member is secured and about which-it is wound and from which said flexible member may be unwound by exerting a pull on the free end thereof, means connected with the rotor for rewinding the flexible member when it has been' unwound. a stationary brake drum supporting the rotor and spaced therefrom, a cam face formed e on the rotor, a roller member interposed between the cam face and the drum and normally engageable with the drum to lock the rotor against rotation, a-second rotor normally rotatable in unison with the ilrst-named rotor, said rotors having a limited rotary movement with relation to eachother, and means actuated by the relative rotational movement of the two rotors for automatically releasing the roller member'with relation to the drum when a pull is exerted on the flexible member and for bringing the roller member back into locking position with relation to the drum when the pull on the exible member is released.

5. In a. retrieving mechanism, .an elongated iiexible member, a rotor to which one end of said' ilexible member is secured and about which it is wound and from' which said flexible member may be unwound by exerting a pull on the free end thereof, a second rotor connected to the rst rotor and normally rotatable in unison with the iirst rotor, said rotors having a limited rotary movement' with relation to eachV other, means for actuating the first rotor torewind the exible member when it has been unwound, and mechanism actuated by the relative rotational movement of the two rotors for automatically locking the rotors against rotation if the pull on the flexible member is released.

. 6. In a retrieving mechanism, ,an elongated flexible member, a rotor to which one end of said flexible member is secured and about which it is wound and from which said flexible member may be unwound by exerting a pull on the free end thereof, a second rotor, a spring interposed between the rst and second rotors to cause them to`normally rotate in unison, said spring permitting a limited rotary movement of the rotors with relation to each other, means for actuating the rst rotor to rewind the flexible member when it has been unwound, mechanism actuated by the relative rotational movement of the two rotors for automatically locking the-rotors against rotation if the pull on the flexible member is released, and means for releasing the rotors when a pull is exerted on the flexible member.

'1. In a. retrieving mechanism, an elongated flexible member, a rotor to which one end of said ilexible member is secured and about which it is wound and from which said flexible member may be unwound by'exerting a pull on the free end thereof, a second rotor, a spring connecting the first and second rotors to cause them to normally rotate in unison, said spring permitting a limited `to e rotary movement of the rotors with relation to each other, a spring for rewinding the flexible member jwhen it has been unwound, locking 'mechanism for normally securing the rotors 

